Bangladesh is a huge opportunity for India.

India-Bangladesh relations were discussed during last month’s meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The latter was reportedly supportive of the NDA government’s move to pass the India-Bangladesh Land Border Agreement (LBA) Bill. She was also positive on the Teesta water sharing pact. Modi is keen to settle both… Read More

Nut rage case exposes cracks in S. Korean society

The recent public furore over the South Korean nut rage incident culminated in the arrest of Heather Cho, daughter of Korean Air’s chairman and a former executive at the airline. She has been charged with breaches of an aviation safety law linked to her outburst over the way she was served nuts on the plane…. Read More

Abe sets the stage, but can Abenomics really work?

Published in Insight & Opinion. As Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe starts his new term in office, his priority was captured in his new year message. “This year, we will once again make the economy the foremost priority, delivering the warm winds of economic recovery to every corner of the nation,” he said. He has… Read More

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sets the stage, but can Abenomics really work?

As Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe starts his new term in office, his priority was captured in his new year message. “This year, we will once again make the economy the foremost priority, delivering the warm winds of economic recovery to every corner of the nation,” he said. He has smartly captured his putatively irreplaceable… Read More

Will Japan, South Korea & Australia ever say yes to China’s AIIB?

As the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank inches closer to being established, China still has a monumental challenge to hurdle: convince Asia-Pacific’s three most influential nations -Japan, South Korea and Australia – to join the proposed $100 billion financial institution. The fact that China is leading the creation of the bank, which will be based in… Read More

An open letter to Modi, ST’s Asian of the Year

Dear Prime Minister Narendra Modi, congratulations on being named as the Asian of the Year 2014 by The Straits Times. In the seven months in office, you have limned out in powerful strokes your priorities and style of governance, and now the delivery time begins. As the Asian of the Year and in the days… Read More

ASEAN could be the role model for SAARC

The 2014 SAARC Summit, which started with high expectations, ended low on delivery. The rivalry between India and Pakistan continues to frustrate efforts to integrate South Asia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked in his opening speech that “Himalaya today is calling us to act. Let us work to change cynicism into optimism.” His Pakistan counterpart,… Read More

Can China’s economic diplomacy translate into leadership?

Published in South China Morning Post. As the dust settles on the recent summitry in the Asia-Pacific, pundits are still dissecting the outcome of the Apec, East Asia and G20 summits. However, one thing is clear: China, led by President Xi Jinping , has consolidated its position as the emerging leader in the region. With… Read More

Sushma Swaraj’s Bangladesh visit must set the stage for ties

The visit by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to Bangladesh which began on Tuesday will be an important gambit for India­Bangladesh relations. The strong mandate received by the BJP in the polls gives it a rare opportunity to resolve long­outstanding bilateral issues. Unfortunately, on the Indian electoral circuit, Bangladesh did not have much significance. In… Read More

India can be a little more sympathetic and giving

Published in The Times of India. With a renewed emphasis in New Delhi on relations with Bangladesh,Mr. Syed Munir Khasru , chairman of the Institute for Policy, Advocacy and Governance (I-PAG) gives a Bangladeshi view on relations to Rudroneel Ghosh : How would you define India-Bangladesh relations today? Unfortunately, the history of the subcontinent, thanks… Read More